Heating and ventilating, and/or air conditioning, apparatus for the cabin of a motor vehicle, especially an electric vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus for heating and ventilating, and/or air conditioning, the cabin of a motor vehicle, and in particular an electric vehicle, comprises a series of elements arranged in a generally horizontal succession along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. These elements comprise: a blower for producing a stream of cold air; a first duct fed by the blower and divided into a cold air transmission branch and an air heating branch which contains a heat recuperator; a selection flap valve for controlling the distribution of the air flow between the two branches; a second duct which receives the outlet air of both of the two branches of the first duct, and which contains at least one electric radiant heater; and a distributor fed by the second duct and including a distribution valve for distributing the cold or heated air between appropriate ventilating ports in the cabin.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Heating and ventilating apparatus for the cabin of a motor vehicle which defines a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the apparatus having a plurality of elements disposed one behind the other in a substantially horizontal direction along the longitudinal axis, wherein the elements comprise: an air blower having an outlet for delivering unheated air through said blower outlet; a first duct connected to the blower outlet and defining an unheated air transmission branch and an air heating branch adjacent to the unheated air transmission branch; a heat recuperator in the air heating branch; a selection flap valve between the blower and said first duct, for controlling the distribution of the unheated air from the blower between the two branches of the first duct; a second duct connected to said two branches for receiving air therefrom; at least one electrical radiant heater in the second duct; a distributor including a distribution valve for selectively distributing air received from the second duct; a plurality of ventilation ports for selectively receiving air from the distributor, said ports opening into different regions of the cabin of the vehicle; and duct means connecting each said ventilation port to the distributor. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including a fresh air inlet member upstream of the blower for supplying fresh air to the blower, and a recirculated air inlet upstream of the blower for supplying to the latter air received from the cabin, the fresh air inlet member comprising a fresh air inlet duct for admitting air from outside the vehicle. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blower has a casing having the general shape of a volute, said first duct being connected to said blower casing as an extension thereof. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further including pivot means mounting the selection flap valve in said first duct for pivoting movement therein, the selection flap valve having a curved shape adapted to the shape of the blower volute casing. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including an air filter downstream of the blower. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the air filter is disposed between said first and second ducts, whereby unheated air from the cold air transmission branch and heated air from the air heating branch has to pass through the filter. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 1 for a vehicle having an electric propulsion motor, wherein the heat recuperator is connected with the electric propulsion motor for recovering heat from the motor. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 1, having two said electrical radiant heaters in said second duct, and further including separate control means for each said radiant heater. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ventilating ports with which said distributor is connected comprise a windshield deicing and demisting port, at least one ventilating port disposed on the fascia of the vehicle, and at least one ventilating port oriented towards the floor of the vehicle. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including control means connected to the distribution valve for setting the latter in different selected positions, in each of which the air received thereby from said second duct is selectively directed simultaneously towards one and two of said ventilating ports. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said ventilating ports include at least one port which is open on the fascia of the vehicle, the apparatus further including an evaporator for producing conditioned air, disposed operatively between the distributor and at least one said port in the fascia. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 1, for a vehicle having a front motor compartment and a transverse bulkhead separating the cabin from said motor compartment, wherein the blower and the first and second ducts are arranged in front of said bulkhead, and the distributor is behind the bulkhead.